Japanese Oilers

YUSOSEN!

(HISHI MARU No. 2 prewar )

IJN HISHI MARU No. 2:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2008-2022 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
Revision 10

10 August 1936:
Kobe. Laid down at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding as an 860-ton tanker for Ogimachi Tanker K.K., Kobe.
30 November 1936:
Launched and named HISHI MARU No. 2.
1 February 1937:
Completed and registered in Tokyo. Her Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) and Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) respectively are 860-tons and 580-tons. Her call sign is JKML. [1]
1937-1941:
In service transporting gasoline on Ogimachi Tanker's service from Kawasaki to Tianjin (Tientsin), China and Shanghai, China.
1938:
Her GRT and NRT are repectively changed to 857-tons and 552-tons. [1]
1941:
Her NRT is changed to 548-tons. [1]
9 September 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN. Navy (Resv) Lt. Ueda Kichisuke is apppointed Commanding Officer. Conversion to a Navy refueling ship begins.
20 September 1941:
Registered in the Kure Naval District as a special transport (refueling ship) under ordinance No. 1093.
21 October 1941:
Conversion to a Navy refueling ship is completed.
21 October ~ 2 December 1941:
Attached to the Combined Fleet as an Otsu category special transport. [2]
2 December 1941:
Departs Tokuyama Naval Fuel Depot.
8 December 1941:
Arrives at Palau.
9 December 1941: Operation "M" - The Attack on the Southern Philippines:
Assigned to participate in refueling operations supporting Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo's (36) (former CO of YAMASHIRO) Third Fleet, Southern Force, Seizure Force’s planned landings at Davao, Philippines.
29 December 1941:
Departs Palau.
8 January 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay, French Indochina (now Vinh Cam Ranh, Vietnam). Departs later this day for Saigon, French Indochina (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam).
9 March 1942:
Departs Singapore for Penang, British Malaya (now Malaysia).
1 April 1942:
Assigned to participate in refueling operations supporting the Gilberts Islands' Ocean-Nauru Island invasion force. Rated as the main unit refueling ship.
23 April 1942:
Arrives at Kure. Fitted with a short-barreled 80-mm gun.
17 May 1942: Operation "AL" - The Occupation of the Western Aleutians:
Assigned to participate in refueling operations supporting the invasion of the Western Aleutians.
20 May 1942:
At 0700 arrives at Osaka.
23 May 1942:
At 1200 departs Osaka.
26 May 1942:
At 0600 arrives at Kure.
29 May 1942:
At 2000 departs Kure.
6 June 1942:
Arrives at Kakumabetsu, Paramushiro, Kuriles (now Shelekhovo, Paramushir, Kuriles, Russia).
8 June - 17 August 1942:
Base Air Force, Kiska, Aleutians. HISHI MARU No. 2 supports Cdr (later Captain) Ito Sukemitsu’s (51) Toko Naval Air Group’s six-plane detachment of Type 97 Kawanishi H6K Mavis flying boats.
12 June 1942:
At 1000 arrives at Kiska.
21 June 1942:
Arrives at Attu, Aleutians.
14 July 1942:
Attached to the Kiska Defense Force Aviation Base Corps.
E 14 July ~ 11 August 1942:
At Narukamijima (Kiska).
11 August 1942:
Released from the Northern unit.
6 September 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
26 September 1942:
Assigned to support Base Air Force under Combined Fleet wireless command No. 311.
4 October 1942:
Departs Kure.
16 October 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands, Australia (now Papua New Guinea).
17 October 1942:
Departs Rabaul.
18 October 1942:
Arrives at Kavieng, New Ireland, Bismarcks Archipelago (now Papua New Guinea).
1 November 1942:
Rated as a Southeast Area Fleet Base Air Force Transport and Supply Unit.
1 December 1942:
Captain Noma Tunetaro is appointed CO.
11 December 1942:
At 0700 departs Balikpapan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Kalimantan, Indonesia) in a convoy with IJN oiler KYOEI MARU escorted by auxiliary KEINAN MARU No. 7. At 1630, KEINAN MARU No. 7 is detached.
12 December 1942:
At 1000 auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU joins as escort.
13 December 1942:
Arrives at Macassar, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies (now Sulawesi, Indonesia).
14 December 1942:
Departs Macassar with auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU still as escort. At 2200, SHONAN MARU is detached.
16 December 1942:
At 1700, IJN oiler KYOEI MARU is detached due to speed differences.
30 December 1942:
Arrives at Kavieng. Refuels auxiliary minesweeper FUMI MARU No. 2.
1 January 1943:
Attached to the Base Air Force Unit.
14 February 1943:
Attachment to the Base Air Force Unit is confirmed under Air Force Base command No. 19.
15 February 1943:
Attached to the Base Air Corps for defense strenghtening operations in Central Solomons and Eastern New Guinea. Engages in supplying aviation gasoline in the Central Solomons/New Guinea area.
26 February 1943:
Departs Truk, Carolines in a convoy with oiler TSURUMI escorted by subchaser CH-10.
27 February 1943:
At 1100 subchaser CH-10 detaches. Lies alongside to the stern of fleet oiler TSURUMI.
5 March 1943:
At 1500 casts off from fleet oiler TSURUMI.
7 March 1943:
Departs Davao for Balikpapan, Borneo.
14 March 1943:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
30 March 1943:
Capt Ueda Kichisuke is appointed Commanding Officer.
9 April 1943:
At 1400, HISHI MARU No. 2 departs Rabaul in a convoy consisting of tankers KYOEI MARU and cargo ships KOAN and HARUNA MARUs escorted by subchaser CH-37.
10 April 1943:
CH-37 detaches and returns to Rabaul.
13 April 1943:
Two destroyers arrive as escort
14 April 1943:
At 1040, arrives at Truk, Carolines.
28 April 1943:
Departs Truk.
2 May 1943:
HISHI MARU No. 2 and cargo-passenger ship SEIA MARU arrive at Kwajalein, Marshalls escorted by submarine chaser CH-32.
4 May 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Emidj Atoll, Marshalls.
8 July 1943:
At 0600 departs Jaluit, Marshalls in a convoy also consisting of water supply ship TATEYAMA MARU escorted by auxiliary minelayer now sub chaser SHONAN MARU No. 3 and auxiliary submarine chaser SHONAN MARU No. 11.
9 July 1943:
Arrives at Makin, Gilberts and departs later that day.
10 July 1943:
Arrives at Tarawa, Gilberts.
26 July 1943:
Departs Makin.
28 July 1943:
Arrives Jaluit and departs later that day.
29 July 1943:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
9 August 1943:
HISHI MARU No.2 departs Kwajalein in convoy No. 6093 also consisting of KENAN and KAIKO MARUs escorted by the auxiliary gunboat CHOAN MARU No. 2 GO.
14 August 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
15 August 1943:
Departs Truk in a convoy also consisting of storeships KITAKAMI MARU and KOSOKU MARU No. 3 escorted by minesweeper W-15.
19 August 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
21 August 1943:
Ownership of HISHI MARU No. 2 is transferred to Mitsubishi Oil Co., Ltd. Departs Saipan in the same convoy.
28 August 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
4 September 1943:
Departs Kure and arrives at the Innoshima Dockyard later that day. Undergoes repairs.
September 1943:
Captain Kitagawa Katsutaka is appointed CO.
4 October 1943:
5 October 1943:
Repairs are completed. Returns to Kure the same day.
4 ~ 15 October 1943:
Capt. Osamu Yorozujotaro is appointed Commanding Officer.
15 October 1943:
Departs Kure and arrives Saeki the same day.
20 October 1943:
At 0500, HISHI MARU No. 2 departs Saeki in convoy O-010 consisting of cargo ships NIKKI, CHOSEN, SHICHISEI, TESHIO, RYUWA, SHINYU, GOSEI and KIZUGAWA MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 5 escorted by torpedo boat SAGI and auxiliary minesweepers AOI MARU, YACHIYO MARU and TOKUHO MARU No. 10.
E 22 October 1943:
All the escorts, except SAGI, are detached at 30N.
29 October 1943:
At 1800, arrives at Palau.
1 December 1943:
Owner is restyled as Mitsubishi Kisen, K.K. Departs Palau in convoy No. 8012 also consisting of oiler SHINSHU MARU escorted by submarine chaser CH-28.
4 December 1943:
At 1830 at 07-45N, 143-10E subchaser CH-28 engages in anti submarine warfare.
8 December 1943:
At 2210, arrives at Truk's north channel with oiler SHINSHU MARU escorted by subchaser CH-28.
9 February 1944:
Classified by the IJA as attached to a striking force.
10 February 1944:
Receives Assault Unit wireless command No. 49:
1 auxiliary transport KAMIKAZE MARU, ammunition ship NICHIRO MARU, fleet oiler SATA and auxiliary gunboat HISHI MARU No. 2 should make a round voyage from Truk to Palau.
2 Destroyer HAMANAMI takes command and leaves the escort to the commander of the Second Maritime Escort Corps.
11 February 1944:
Receives the Second Maritime Escort Corps wireless command No. 48:
The captain of the KAMIKAZE MARU commands convoy No. 725 (sic for 7125) consisting of auxilary transport KAMIKAZE MARU, ammunition ship NICHIRO MARU, fleet oiler SATA, auxiliary oiler HISHO MARU No. 2 and auxiliary stores ship KITAKAMI MARU escorted by destroyer HAMANAMI. HAMANAMI operates between Truk and Palau as commander of the auxiliary subchaser CH-30 and the auxiliary subchasers SHONAN MARU No. 5 and TAKUNAN MARU No. 2. The convoy is scheduled to depart Truk at 1200 on 12 February 1943 and to arrive at Palau at 1300 on 18 February 1943.
12 February 1944:
HISHI MARU No. 2 departs Truk in convoy No. 7125 consisting of oilers SATA, ammunition ship NICHIRO MARU and cargo ships KAMIKAZE and KITAGAMI MARUs escorted by destroyer HAMANAMI, subchaser CH-30 and auxiliary subchasers TAKUNAN MARU No. 2 and SHONAN MARU No. 5.
14 February 1944:
At 1224 the convoy undergoes a torpedo attack. Destroyer HAMANAMI is hit by a depth charge but apparently sustains no damage.
15 February 1944:
At 1710 destroyer HAMANAMI drops depth charges.
17 February 1944:
150 miles NE of Palau. At about 2200, LtCdr Philip W. Garnett's (USNA ’33) USS SARGO (SS-188) intercepts the convoy. He fires eight torpedoes at oiler SATA by moonlight in a surface attack at 08-50N, 135-50E. Garnett gets only one hit, but it disables SATA. At 2206, he fires two torpedoes that hit ammunition ship NICHIRO MARU. She explodes and sinks immediately taking down 53 crewmen.
At 2235, USN codebreakers at Fleet Radio Unit, Melbourne, Australia (FRUMEL) intercept and decode a message from KAMIKAZE MARU that reads "At 2202 in 08-50N, 135-40E attacked by 2 enemy submarines. NICHIRO MARU hit and sunk. Convoy retiring to northwest whilst escorts are pressing home attack on submarines."
19 February 1944:
At 0905, arrives at Palau.
21 February 1944:
Departs Palau in convoy with tanker IRO and possibly others.
26 February 1944:
Arrives at Tarakan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Kalimantan, Indonesia). Loads a full cargo of gasoline.
4 March 1944:
Departs Tarakan.
6 March 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
15 March 1944:
At 0730, HISHI MARU No. 2 departs Balikpapan for Palau in convoy O-507 consisting of three echelons escorted by destroyers HARUSAME and SHIRATSUYU, patrol boat PB-36, subchaser CH-6 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-52. The first echelon consists of fleet oilers IRO and tankers NAGISAN MARU and HISHI MARU No. 2. The second echelon consists of fleet oiler TSURUMI, tanker KYOEI MARU and cargo ship RAIZAN MARU and the third echelon consists only of cargo ship HOKUTAI MARU.
16 March 1944:
At 1530, destroyer MICHISHIO joins the convoy and the other escorts, except PB-36 escorting IRO, depart.
17 March 1944:
At 0200 destroyer MICHISHIO ends escort and returns.
20 March 1944:
At 0800, auxiliary subchasers CHa-51 and CHa-53 join the escort.
21 March 1944:
At 0930 auxiliary subchaser CHa-27 joins the escort.
22 March 1944:
LtCdr (later Cdr) John A. Scott's (USNA ’28) USS TUNNY (SS-282) SJ radar picks up a large convoy. At daybreak, Scott is maneuvering to gain an attack position when his radar picks up a destroyer at 14,000 yards. The destroyer sights the submarine and challenges USS TUNNY with a blinker. Scott ducks into a nearby rain squall and continues to close on the surface in conditions of poor visibility. Through the haze, he makes out a group of oilers and cargo ships.
Scott sets up and fires a full bow spread of six-torpedoes at two cargo ships at 07-22N, 132-08E. He and his crew see and hear hits on both, but suddenly, a small oiler, probably KYOEI MARU, appears out of the gloom and almost collides with USS TUNNY.
Scott sets up on destroyer MICHISHIO moving at high speed across USS TUNNY’s stern. He fires four Mark-18 electric torpedoes, then crash dives as depth charges from a trawler explode on his port quarter. During the next four hours, IRO is hit in the bow, forward of the bulkheads. The Japanese drop 87 depth charges on USS TUNNY, but without effect.
23 March 1944:
At 1800, arrives at Palau.
30 March 1944: American Operation “Desecrate One” :
Palau. The anchorage is attacked by F6F "Hellcats", SBD "Dauntless", TBF "Avenger" and SB2C "Helldivers" of Task Group 58. 1's USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6), USS BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24) and USS COWPENS (CVL-25), TG 58. 2's USS BUNKER HILL (CV-17), USS HORNET (CV-12), USS MONTEREY (CV-26) and USS CABOT (CVL-28) and TG 58. 3's USS YORKTOWN (CV-10), USS LEXINGTON (CV-16), USS PRINCETON (CVL-23) and USS LANGLEY (CVL-27).
TG 58’s planes sink many ships and damage HISHI MARU No. 2, subchaser CH-35, netlayer SHOSEI MARU and army cargo ship HOKUTAI MARU at 07-30N, 134-30E. HISHI MARU No. 2 sustains medium damage and undergoes emergency repairs.
30 April 1944:
Departs Palau.
2 May 1944:
Arrives at Davao, Philippines.
6 May 1944:
Under TYF command under Combined Fleet telegram No. 76.
11 May 1944:
Departs Davao.
14 May 1944:
Arrives at Bongao, Tawi Tawi, Philippines.
18 May 1944:
Departs Bongao.
19 May 1944:
Arrives at Tarakan, Borneo.
20 May 1944:
Ownership transfers to Kinkai Yusosen, K.K.
27 May 1944:
Departs Tarakan.
29 May 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan. Departs Balikpapan for repairs at Surabaya, Java, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia).
5 June 1944:
Sulu Sea. N end of Sibutu Passage, off Tawitawi, Philippines. LtCdr Frank G. Selby’s USS PUFFER (SS-268) attacks the Takasaki convoy of allegedly three tankers. Selby torpedoes and sinks both ASHIZURI (casualties unknown) and TAKASAKI (casualties unknown) at 06-33N, 122-55E. OKIKAWA MARU and destroyer SATSUKI that are actually separate from the Takasaki convoy escape damage. USS PUFFER also torpedoes and damages HISHI MARU No. 2 at 06-44N, 120-54E.
26 June 1944:
At 1300, HISHI MARU No. 2 departs Surabaya for Kotabaru, Laut Island, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Kalimantan, Indonesia) in a convoy consisting of TAI MARU, TORA MARU No. 1 and oilers ENOSHIMA and YOSEI MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-11. At 2039, anchors at Menpa before proceeding.
27 June 1944:
At 0655 departs Menpa harbour.
28 June 1944:
At 0915, YOSEI MARU incurs engine trouble and straggles.
29 June 1944:
At 2003, reaches the entrance of the Laut Channel. Stays there during the night.
30 June 1944:
At 0700 departs the entrance of the Laut Channel. Arrives at Kotabaru, N Laut Island.
1 July ~ 10 July 1944:
Departs Kotabaru for Balikpapan. Loads gasoline, thereafter departs for Manila, Philippines. Departs Manila for Tawi Tawi. Loads gasoline.
11 July 1944:
At the Berouw River mouth, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Berau River mouth, Kalimantan, Indonesia). ANKO and TATSUMATSU MARUs and tanker HISHI MARU No. 2 join a convoy consisting of MANEI, EIHO and YUHO MARUs, and fleet oiler TSURUMI escorted by kaibokan KANJU and MIYAKE and submarine chasers CH-38, CH-49 and CH-58.
12 July 1944:
Departs the Berouw River mouth. Later that day, anchors off Tarakan.
13 July 1944:
Departs Tarakan. Arrives at the Ligitan Channel, Sabah, British Borneo. (now Malaysia).
14 July 1944:
Departs the Ligitan Channel. Later that day, arrives at Tawi Tawi.
15 July 1944:
Departs Tawi Tawi. Later that day, arrives at Jolo, Sulu Islands, Philippines. Fleet oiler TSURUMI, TATSUMATSU and ANKO MARUs and HISHI MARU No. 2 are detached.
18 July 1944:
At 0541 departs Zamboanga, Mindanao, Philippines in a convoy also consisting of fleet oiler TSURUMI escorted by minesweeper W-30, submarine chasers CH-49 and CH-58 and auxiliary netlayer TOKO MARU No 1 GO. At 1925 arrives at Malusu Bay, Basilan Island, Philippines.
19 July 1944:
At 0600 departs Malusu Bay and at 1832 arrives at Lebak Bay, Mindanao.
20 July 1944:
At 0552 departs Lebak Bay and via Sarangani Bay, Mindanao arrives at 1653 at Glan, Mindanao.
21 July 1944:
At 0457 departs Glan and at 1905 arrives at Malalag, Mindanao.
22 July 1944:
At 0624 departs Malalag and at 1048 arrives at Davao.
25 July 1944:
At 0155, HISHI MARU No. 2 departs Davao for Zamboanga, Philippines in convoy Z-258 consisting of AZUCHISAN, OYO, TATSUHARU, RYUKA and KITAGAMI MARUs and KYOEI MARU No. 2 and LST No. 127 escorted by kaibokan CD-6, CD-16, minesweeper W-30, subchasers CH-49 and CH-58, auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 12, auxiliary netlayer TOKACHI MARU, auxiliary netlayer TOKO MARU No. 1 GO and auxiliary submarine chaser MISAGO MARU No. 2. The convoy is provided air-cover. At 1452 patrolling aircraft drop a bomb 140 degrees to the right near the shore. Subchasers CH-49 and CH-58 head towards the site for an anti submarine attack. At 1600, T.127, RYUKA MARU and TOKO MARU No. 1 GO and MISAGO MARU No. 2 are detached for Sarangani Bay.
27 July 1944:
At about 0100, LtCdr (later Captain) Bladen D. Claggett's (USNA ’35) USS DACE (SS-247) attacks the convoy and sinks tanker KYOEI MARU No. 2 with the loss of five of her crew. At about 1400, the convoy is attacked by aircraft in the Pilas Channel, but suffers no damage. At 1830, the convoy arrives at Zamboanga.
16 August 1944:
At 0925 departs Zamboanga in convoy D-161 consisting of HISHI MARU No. 2 only escorted by minesweeper W-30 auxiliary submarine chaser CHa-15 and KYO MARU No. 12. Between 1230 and 1330 HISHI MARU No. 2 suffers an engine breakdown. At 1414 minesweeper W-30 discovers something that looks like a periscope. Attacks by dropping a depth charge.
18 August 1944:
At 0012 at 04-50N, 124-35E attacked by 1 enemy B-24 which drops 2 bombs that miss. At 0120 at 04-50N, 124-42E attacked again by 1 enemy B-24 which also drops 2 bombs that miss. Minesweeper W-30 heads ahead of the convoy and carries out anti submarine sweeps on the convoy route. At 1835 arrives at Malalag.
19 August 1944:
At 0553 departs Malalag in convoy D-161 and at 0922 arrives at Davao.
22 August 1944:
At 0339, HISHI MARU Maru No. 2 departs Malalag, Davao Gulf with IJA transport TATEISHI MARU in convoy Z-222 escorted by minesweeper W-30, auxiliary subchaser CHa-15, KYO MARU No. 12 and auxiliary netlayer TOKACHI MARU. At 0720 minesweeper W-30 bombards a shore house. At 0851, IJA transport TATEISHI MARU is attacked by an enemy submarine, probably USS FLYING FISH (SS-229), but its three torpedoes miss. The escorts counter-attack and drop 26 depth-charges without effect. At 1800 minesweeper W-30 ends antisubmarine sweeping and rejoins the convoy escort. At 1819, the convoy anchors at Glan, Sarangani Bay, southern Mindanao.
23 August 1944:
At 1915, departs Sarangani Bay.
24 August 1944:
At 0304, an American plane snoops the convoy. At 0430, it attacks KYO MARU No. 12, but causes no damage. At 1915, convoy Z-222 arrives at Zamboanga, Mindanao.
1 September 1944:
Departs Zamboanga in convoy with tanker KYOEI MARU No. 3 and CAROLINE MARU escorted by minesweeper W-30. Later that day arrives at Jolo.
2 September 1944:
Departs Jolo and later that day arrives at Bongao.
3 September 1944:
Departs Bongao and later that day arrives at Trusan Ligitan.
4 September 1944:
Departs Trusan Ligitan and later that day arrives at Tarakan.
October 1944:
Commanded by deputy Captain Kitagawa Katsutaka. Loads gasoline. Departs Balikpapan.
November 1944:
Captain Sueda Junkichi is appointed Commanding Officer.
6 November 1944:
Arrives at Manila from Balikpapan with a cargo of gasoline. Offloads the gasoline then loads food products.
8 November 1944:
At 1900, HISHI MARU No. 2 departs Manila for Balikpapan in convoy B-02 consisting of ex auxiliary gunboat MANYO MARU and oilers and KYOEI MARU escorted by patrol boat PB-2, subchaser CH-4 and three unidentified subchasers.
9 November 1944:
Mindoro Strait. At 1530, LtCdr Frank C. Lynch's (USNA ’38) USS HADDO (SS-255) torpedoes and sinks HISHI MARU No. 2 at 12-24N 120-45E. 11 crewmen are KIA. The escorts counterattack with depth charges, but Lynch evades and escapes.
10 January 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

Authors' Note:

[1] NRT is a ship's cargo volume capacity expressed in "register tons", one of which equals to a volume of 100 cubic feet (2.83 m3). It is calculated by subtracting non-revenue-earning spaces i.e. spaces not available for carrying cargo, for example engine rooms, fuel tanks and crew quarters, from the ship's gross register tonnage (GRT). Net register tonnage (NRT) is not a measure of the weight of the ship or its cargo, and should not be confused with terms such as deadweight tonnage or displacement.
[2] There were two categories of Yusosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
Photo credit and general thanks goes to Gilbert Casse of France and Berend van der Wal of Netherlands. Thanks also to Matthew Jones of Missisippi, USA for help in identifying COs. Finally, thanks to Gengoro Toda of Japan.

- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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